Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the safe countries, Georgia has been designated since 2018. Where it actually has effect is where we have applied in the last year the accelerated procedure. In other words, it can be a safe country but that does not mean you are going to be processed any quicker. It did not have an impact. It has been designated since 2018 when we saw an increase in numbers. The only way it has dropped is by putting them into the accelerated procedure, so that is what has really made the difference with regard to the safe countries.

On the 30,000 figure, that is solely related to reallocations. We are expecting front-line member state, in particular Italy, Greece, Cyprus and others, to do a huge amount of the work here. We are expecting them to have screening procedures and to be the first countries to process the applications. If countries are then looking to send them back, we expect them to take them back. We expecting this of a huge amount of countries that are at the front face of this, and 30,000 is a relatively small number across the EU when it comes to reallocations if you consider the number of people that are probably arriving and will be arriving in those countries simply because of where they are geographically. Of the 30,000, overall it is a figure of 648 for Ireland. In the context of our 13,000 people, it is a relatively small figure that we do not even have to take. We can provide funding instead. The figure of 30,000 is not reflective or everybody who is coming to the EU. It is a much greater figure. It is simply the reallocation number, taking into account the fact that these countries are going to be, and have been for many years, under significant pressure. However, they do not have an option to opt out here. They are part of this pact, and are committing to doing what they can to try to process, house and support people. It is important that we play our part here as well.

On the visa information system, we cannot be part of it. We are not part of Schengen, so it is simply not an option for us.